Portable terminal

ABSTRACT

A portable terminal characterized by comprises: a first substrate; a double-sided tape adhered to a prescribed portion of said first substrate; a second substrate adhered to said double-sided tape on a side thereof that is opposite the side on which said first substrate is located and having an electronic part mounted on a side thereof that is opposite the side affixed to said double-sided tape; an upper case disposed on a side of said first substrate, opposite the side where said doubled-sided tape is located; a lower case disposed on a side of the electronic part, opposite the side where said second substrate is located, and combined with said upper case; and a frame placed between said second substrate and said lower case and having an opening at a position corresponding to said electronic part.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/524,339 filed Jul. 23, 2009 and claims the benefit of its priority.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a portable terminal in which a plurality ofsubstrates are superimposed and housed in a case.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, in some portable terminals in which a plurality ofsubstrates (two, for example) are superimposed and housed in a case, thefirst and second substrates are fixed by a frame formed of plastic ormetal. For example, with reference to FIG. 4, a portable terminal 101comprises an upper case 103 a and a lower case 103 b that form a hollowcase; a substrate 110 (which includes mounted electronic parts 111, 113and shielding parts 112, 114) placed inside the case on the side ofupper case 103 a; a substrate 120 (which includes a mounted electronicpart 121) placed inside the case on the side of lower case 103 b; and aframe 130 placed inside the case between the substrates 110 and 120 andhaving a claw portion 130 a for securing the substrate 110 and a clawportion 130 b for securing the substrate 120; wherein an assemblycomprising the substrates 110, the substrate 120 and the frame 130 isembraced by the upper case 103 a and the lower case 103 b. The clawportions 130 a, 130 b of the frame 130 secure the substrates 110, 120 insuch a manner that they will not be dislodged in the stacking direction.As a result, the assembly comprising the substrates 110, 120 and frame130 is secured to the case.

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No.JP-P2000-78253A

SUMMARY

The content disclosed in Patent Document 1 cited above is herebyincorporated by reference herein. The present invention offers ananalysis of the related art, as set forth below.

With the arrangement shown in FIG. 4, since it is desired that thesubstrates 110, 120 be resistant to flexing so as to not becomedisengaged from the claw portions 130 a, 103 b, a problem which arisesis an increase in the thickness of the portable terminal. Further, in acase where one of the substrates 110, 120 is a thin, flexible substratethat readily disengages from the claw portions 130 a, 130 b, it isnecessary to raise rigidity as by affixing a rigid plate to thesubstrate, as in Patent Document 1. Thus the problem of increasedthickness of the portable terminal cannot be avoided.

It is an object of the present invention to reduce thickness whilesecuring a plurality of substrates inside a case.

In one aspect of the present invention, a portable terminal comprises: afirst substrate; a double-sided tape adhered to a prescribed portion ofthe first substrate; a second substrate adhered to the double-sided tapeon a side thereof that is opposite the side on which the first substrateis located and having an electronic part mounted on a side thereof thatis opposite the side affixed to the double-sided tape; an upper casedisposed on a side of the first substrate that is opposite the sidewhere the doubled-sided tape is located; a lower case disposed on a sideof the electronic part, opposite the side where the second substrate islocated, and combined with the upper case; and a frame placed betweenthe second substrate and the lower case and having an opening at aposition corresponding to the electronic part.

In the portable terminal of the present invention, preferably anassembly comprising the first substrate, the double-sided tape and thesecond substrate is embraced by the upper case and the lower case.

In the portable terminal of the present invention, preferably the secondsubstrate is urged toward the side of the first substrate by the frame.

In the portable terminal of the present invention, preferably the secondsubstrate is a flexible wiring board.

In the portable terminal of the present invention, preferably the firstsubstrate has an electronic part mounted on a side thereof on which thesecond substrate is located, and has a shielding part, which comprises ametal plate for blocking noise of the electronic part of the firstsubstrate, mounted so as to cover the electronic part; wherein thedouble-sided tape is adhered to the shielding part of the firstsubstrate.

In the portable terminal of the present invention, preferably theshielding part is mounted on the first substrate so as to encompass atleast an area where the frame abuts against the second substrate.

In accordance with the present invention, the first substrate and thesecond substrate are secured by the double-sided tape and are embracedby the upper case and the lower case, and the second substrate is urgedtoward the side of the first substrate by the frame. It is thereforepossible for the first and second substrates to be strongly secured.Further, even in a case where a thin, flexible wiring board is used, aswith the second substrate, it is possible for the first and secondsubstrates to be strongly secured in similar fashion. Furthermore, sincethe frame is so adapted that the frame urges the region of the secondsubstrate in the area of the substrate other than that of the electronicpart toward the side of the upper case, it is possible to stronglysecure the assembly, which comprises the first and second substrates andthe double-sided tape, without influencing the thickness of theassembly. As a result, thinning of the portable terminal is achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating theconfiguration of a portable terminal according to a first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, the terminal being shown in theopened state;

FIG. 2 is a partially developed perspective view schematicallyillustrating the configuration of a portable terminal according to afirst exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view, following assembly, corresponding toa line A-A′ of FIG. 2 and schematically illustrating the configurationof a portable terminal according to a first exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view schematically illustrating theconfiguration of a portable terminal according to a related art.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1, 101 portable terminal

2 first case

3 second case

3 a, 103 a upper case

3 b, 103 b lower case

4 hinge portion

5 display portion

6 button portion

10, 110 substrate (first substrate)

11, 13, 111, 113 electronic part

12, 14, 112, 114 shielding part

20, 120 substrate (second substrate)

21, 121 electronic part

30 frame

30 a opening

30 b projection

40 double-sided tape

50 screw

130 frame

130 a, 130 b claw portion

PREFERRED MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First ExemplaryEmbodiment

A portable terminal according to a first exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG.1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration ofa portable terminal according to a first exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, the terminal being shown in the opened state; FIG. 2is a partially developed perspective view schematically illustrating theconfiguration of a portable terminal according to a first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 3 is a partial sectionalview, following assembly, corresponding to the line A-A′ of FIG. 2 andschematically illustrating the configuration of a portable terminalaccording to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, a portable terminal 1 has a first case 2 and asecond case 3 foldably connected by a hinge portion 4. The first case 2is provided with a display portion 5 for displaying a screen. The secondcase 3 is provided with a button portion 6 in which a plurality of keybuttons are disposed. The second case 3 comprises an upper case 3 a anda lower case 3 b in combination.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a substrate 10, double-sided tape 40and a substrate 20 are disposed inside the second case 3 by beingstacked between the upper case 3 a and the lower case 3 b in the ordermentioned starting from the side of upper case 3 a. A frame 30 isprovided in a space between the substrate 20 and the lower case 3 b andis placed on the edge portion(s) and outer peripheral portion of thesubstrate 20. The lower case 3 b is fitted onto the upper case 3 a andis fastened to the upper case 3 a by screws 50.

The substrate 10 is a printed wiring board. An electronic part(component) 11 is mounted on the substrate 10 on the side thereof onwhich the upper case 3 a is located. A shielding part (member) 12comprising a metal plate for blocking noise of the electronic part 11 ismounted so as to cover the electronic part 11. The shielding part 12 isin abutting contact with surface on the inner side of the upper case 3a. An electronic part (component) 13 is mounted on the substrate 10 onthe side thereof where the lower case 3 b is located. A shielding part(member) 14 comprising a metal plate for blocking noise of theelectronic part 13 is mounted so as to cover the electronic part 13. Theshielding part 14 is adhered to the double-sided tape 40.

The substrate 20 is a flexible wiring board. An electronic part(component) 21 is mounted on the substrate 20 on the side thereof wherethe lower case 3 b is located. The electronic part 21 abuts against theinner surface of the lower case 3 b. It should be noted that although ashielding part has not been mounted on the substrate 20 in FIGS. 2 and3, a shielding part may be mounted so as to cover the electronic part21. The surface of the substrate 20 on the side of the upper case 3 a isadhered to the double-sided tape 40. The substrate 20 is in abuttingcontact with the frame 30 at that edge portion of the substrate on theside of the lower case 3 b that surrounds the electronic part 21.

The frame 30 is a member for urging the substrate 20 toward the uppercase 3 a in order to secure the substrates 10, 20 more strongly. Theframe 30 has an opening 30 a for allowing the electronic part 21 ofsubstrate 20 to pass therethrough. The shape of the opening 30 a isdesigned appropriately in accordance with the shape of the electronicpart 21 (in a case where there are a plurality of electronic parts 21,the shape is in accordance with the shape of each of electronic parts 21or the shape of the combination thereof). The frame 30 has a projection30 b (see FIG. 2) that abuts against the inner surface of the lower case3 b. The frame 30 urges the substrate 20 toward the upper case 3 a owingto the fact that the lower case 3 b is urged toward the upper case 3 aby the projection 30 b. The shielding part 14 of substrate 10 is placedin an area where the frame 30 and substrate 20 come into abuttingcontact and will not bend when the substrate 20 is urged toward theupper case 3 a.

The double-sided tape 40 is for securing the substrate 20 on theshielding part 14 of substrate 10. The double-sided tape 40 has theentirety of its surface on the side of the substrate 20 adhered to thesubstrate 20, and has a portion of its surface of the side of thesubstrate 20 adhered to the shielding part 14.

The assembly comprising the substrate 10 (inclusive of the mountedelectronic parts 11, 13 and shielding parts 12, 14), the substrate 20(inclusive of the mounted electronic part 21) and the double-sided tape40 is embraced by the upper case 3 a and lower case 3 b and is urgedtoward the upper case 3 a by the frame 30, whereby the assembly issecured in the case.

In accordance with the first exemplary embodiment, the substrate 10 andthe substrate 20 are secured by the double-sided tape 40 and embraced bythe upper case 3 a and lower case 3 b, and the substrate 20 is urgedtoward the substrate 10. It is therefore possible to secure thesubstrates 10 and 20 firmly. Further, even in a case where a thin,flexible wiring board is used, as with the substrate 20, it is possiblefor the substrate 10 and substrate 20 to be strongly secured in similarfashion. Furthermore, since the frame 30 is so adapted that the frameurges the region of the substrate 20 in the area of the substrate otherthan (except for) that of the electronic part 21 toward the side of theupper case 3 a, it is possible to firmly secure the assembly, whichcomprises the substrate 10, the substrate 20 and the double-sided tape40, without influencing the thickness of the assembly. As a result,thinning of the portable terminal is achieved.

Within the bounds of the full disclosure of the present invention(inclusive of the scope of the claims), it is possible to modify andadjust the modes and exemplary embodiments of the invention based uponthe fundamental technical idea of the invention. Multifariouscombinations and selections of the various disclosed elements arepossible within the bounds of the scope of the claims of the presentinvention.

1. A portable terminal comprising: a first substrate; a second substrateadhered to said first substrate and having an electronic part mounted ona side of said second substrate, opposite a side adhered to said firstsubstrate; an upper case disposed on a side of said first substrate,opposite a side adhered to said second substrate; a lower case disposedon a side of said electronic part, opposite a side where said secondsubstrate is mounted, and combined with said upper case; and a frameplaced between said second substrate and said lower case and having anopening at a position corresponding to said electronic part.
 2. Aportable terminal according to claim 1, wherein an assembly comprisingsaid first substrate and said second substrate is embraced by said uppercase and said lower case.
 3. A portable terminal according to claim 2,said second substrate is urged toward said first substrate at which bysaid frame.
 4. A portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein saidsecond substrate is a flexible wiring board.
 5. A portable terminalaccording to claim 1, wherein said first substrate has an electronicpart mounted on the side thereof to which said second substrate isadhered, and has a shielding part comprising a metal plate for blockingnoise of said electronic part of said first substrate, mounted so as tocover said electronic part.
 6. A portable terminal according to claim 5,wherein said shielding part is mounted on said first substrate so as toencompass at least an area where said frame abuts against said secondsubstrate.
 7. A portable terminal according to claim 2, wherein saidsecond substrate is a flexible wiring board.
 8. A portable terminalaccording to claim 3, wherein said second substrate is a flexible wiringboard.
 9. A portable terminal according to claim 2, wherein said firstsubstrate has an electronic part mounted on the side thereof to whichsaid second substrate is adhered, and has a shielding part comprising ametal plate for blocking noise of said electronic part of said firstsubstrate, mounted so as to cover said electronic part.
 10. A portableterminal according to claim 3, wherein said first substrate has anelectronic part mounted on a side thereof to which said second substrateis adhered, and has a shielding part comprising a metal plate forblocking noise of said electronic part of said first substrate, mountedso as to cover said electronic part.
 11. A portable terminal accordingto claim 4, wherein said first substrate has an electronic part mountedon a side thereof on which said second substrate is adhered, and has ashielding part comprising a metal plate for blocking noise of saidelectronic part of said first substrate, mounted so as to cover saidelectronic part.
 12. A portable terminal according to claim 9, whereinsaid shielding part is mounted on said first substrate so as toencompass at least an area where said frame abuts against said secondsubstrate.
 13. A portable terminal according to claim 10, wherein saidshielding part is mounted on said first substrate so as to encompass atleast an area where said frame abuts against said second substrate. 14.A portable terminal according to claim 11, wherein said shielding partis mounted on said first substrate so as to encompass at least an areawhere said frame abuts against said second substrate.
 15. A portableterminal according to claim 1, wherein said second substrate is adheredto said first substrate using an adhesive material.